Container cap-supporting attachment



Oct. 14, 1952 J, WQODY 2,613,842

CONTAINER CAP-SUPPORTING ATTACHMENT Filed May 27, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEE'I 1 INVENTOR. JOSEPH 1?. 14/0 00v BY Oct. 14, 1952 J. R. WOODY 2,613,842

CONTAINER CAP-SUPQRTING ATTACHMENT Fild May 27, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INS--7- INVENTOR. JOSEPH 7?. W000) Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT omen ooiv'TAnv R CAP-SUPPORTING ATTACHMENT JoSepII'RQWoOdY, Stuarts Draft, Va. Application May 27, 1949, Serial No. 955851 4- Claims; (01. 220 30.6)

This invention relates to'a supporting'device for container caps, and more" particularly to a spring-actuated device for a containercap which is operable to move the cap into closed and open positions relative to the container. d

The primary object of the invention is to provide a cap-supporting device which is easily secured to the conventional container employing a removable cap, such as a tooth powder or shaving cream container.

Another objecto'f this invention is to providea cap-supporting device which is secured by' a suitable means to the discharge orifice of a conventional container and which is operable to move the container cap into open and closed positions relative to the discharge orifice. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a cap-supporting device which can be easily adapted to the discharge nozzles of containers. Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawing, wherein; V

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device formingthisinvention mounted on the discharge. nozzle of a conventional container with the cap;

of the container bell in a closed position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showingthecap of the container in threaded engagement with the nozzle of the container; r Figure 3 is atop plan view of the deviceshown in Figure 1; 7 l I Figure 4; is a plan view in partial cross section taken along the line 4 '4 of Figure 5;

' Figure 5 is an elevational view of the device mounted on a container with the cap held inan open position and with a portion of thedevice shown in cross-section to show the method em ployed to secure the device to'the nozzle'of the container;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device mounted on a conventional container and with the container cap in a closed position;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of another form of the device mounted on a" conventional container with the container cap in a closed position; I f

I Figure is a view similar to Figure '7 butWith the container cap in an open position; I n v I Figure 9 is a view in cross-section of the modified form of Figure 7 taken along the line"9 9" of Figure 11;

Figure is a plan view of the cap-supporting Figure 12 is aside elevational view in partial cross-section of the cap-supporting member taken along the line l2 -l2 of Figure 10; j v,

v Figure 13 is an elevational view of a furthe form of the device mounted ona conventional container with the container cap in" a closed position; l e V Figure 14 is a plan view in partialcross-section taken along the line l4- -I4 of Figure 1'3.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to identical parts, the device forming this invention, as seen in Figures 1 through 6 andmost clearly in Figure 6, comprises a nozzle engaging member l5 and a cap-supporting member 16 which is operatively connectedto the member [5. The nozzle-engaging member isdesigned to be mounted on the discharge nozzle I! of a conventional commercial-container l 8, such as might contain tooth paste, shaving cream or the like. The cap-supporting member 16 is likewise designed to support'the cap l9 provided for the container I8.

The nozzle-engaging member l5 comprises a centrally-apertured skirt 20, which is preferably of a frusto-conical configuration to embrace the tapered neck 2| of the container I8. The apertured skirt 20 is provided with athread-engaging edge 22 adjacent its inner periphery to engage the threads 23 of the nozzle I1, as shown" in Figure 5. Depending from the apertured' skirt 2!] and connected thereto is a guide plate. 24 extending radially from the nozzle, the guide plate being formed to conform to the adjacent surface of the tapered neck 2|. The guide plate 24 is integrally connected to a cantilever or semi-elliptical spring arm 25 which extends in approximate parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The free end of the arm 25 is notched, as at 26, and is'laterally spaced from the open end of the nozzle IT. The arm 25" is provided with a longitudinal" slot 21' for a'purpose to be discussed later.

The cap-supporting member I6 is of rightangular construction, the legs being pivotally connected at their juncture point 27 to the free One leg" 28 of-the 29 being movable through the longitudinal slot The leg 30' is provided'with.

21 of the arm'25. opposed slots 3| adjacentthe juncture 21 of the member I6 to permit the leg 30 to fit within the notched end 25 of the spring arm 25. Thus, the member 16 is pivotally connected to the free end of the spring arm 25. The free end of the leg 30 is disposed in slidable contact with the guide plate 24, the movement of the free end being limited by a stop 32 in the guide plate and the base of the spring arm 25.

The device may be used with a conventional container, as 18, the centrally-apertured skirt 2!) being positioned on the discharge nozzle 11, and then being rotated thereon, so that the threadengaging edge 22 of the skirt 2:: tightly engages the threads 23 of the nozzle. The bifurcated leg 28 of the cap-receiving member 16 'is spread to accommodate the cap [9. When it is desired to open the container, the thumb lever 29 is depressed, and the free end of the leg 38 will slide along the guide plate 24 to its limited position adjacent the stop 32, as shown clearly in Figure 5. In such a position, the spring arm 25 will be forced into a resistive or flexed condition, whereby the free end of the spring arm 25' compresses the free end of the leg 3!! against the guide plate 24 to thereby retain the cap [9 in an open position relative to the container It. To close the container [8, the thumb lever 29 is moved in an opposite direction and the opera tion is reversed, the result being that the cap 19 is forced and held in tight contact with the top of the nozzlell, as shown in Figure 1. 'If de' sired, the cap l9 may be rotated on the nozzle ll so as to be threadedly engaged withthe threads 23 on the nozzle, as shown in Figure 2. This latter operation is feasible, due to the loose mounting of the cap IS in the bifurcated leg 23 and the fact that the leg 35) is adapted to be flexed longitudinally.

The modification of the device shown in Figures 7 through 12'isessentially the same as the previously-described preferred form. However, the structure of the nozzle-engaging member i?- has been modified, wherein a center portion 33 of the spring arm 25' is peeled back into an overlying relationship with respect to the guide plate 24. The free end of the center portion or retaining spring 33 is inserted within a groove 34 of the nozzle ll, thereby securely holding the nozzle engaging member H in position on the nozzle 11. The free end of the leg 30 is notched, as atv 35, Figure 12, to receive the retaining spring 33 therein and to permit the slidable contact of the free end with the guide plate 25. A stop 36 isprovided adjacent the free end of the retaining spring 33 to limit the movement of the free end of the leg 30. As is apparent,

the apertured member 20 of this form is not provided with a thread-engaging edge as is provided in the previous form of the device, since the retaining spring 33 serves to perform-the equivalent function of securing the nozzle-engaging member to the nozzle I 1.

The other modified form of the device, as shown in Figures 13 and 14, is similar to the form of Figure 1, with the exception that a second centrally-apertured skirt 3'! is disposed insuperposed concentric position relative to the first apertured skirt and is integrally con nected to the latter. The second apertured skirt 3'! is provided with saw teeth 38 adjacent the aperture thereof, which are adapted to cut a groove in the nozzle ll of a container 18,- which represents a conventional commercial container provided with an unthreaded lower portion of its nozzle. A bar 39 is disposed throughcthe a ertured skirts 20 and 31' for the purpose of connected directly to the spring at their juncture.

moving the latter members from a normally eccentric position to a concentric position to permit fastening or positioning the skirts 2B and 3! when so concentrically aligned on the nozzle ll of the container [8. By rotation of the container relative to the apertured skirts 20 and 31, the saw teeth 38 cut a groove in the unthreaded lower portion of its nozzle I1. I The teeth 38 are provided with stop flanges 40 to limit the depth of cut, so as to avoid impairing the nozzle l1. 1

I claim:

1. The combination with a container having a nozzle at one end and a cap for the nozzle, of a guide plate extended radially from the nozzle; means connecting said plate at one end thereof to the nozzle; a semi-elliptical spring fixed at one end to the other end of the guide plate in approximate parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and tensioned at its other end to exert a continuous pressure in the general direction of the opposite end of the container; a cap-supporting member including a pair of perpendicularly related legs fixedly joined at one end thereof and pivotally connected directly to the spring at their juncture point, the cap being separably connected to the other end of one leg, the other end of the second leg sliding longitudinally of the guide plate to opposite extreme positions adjacent the nozzle and spring, respectively, said spring in the respective positions of the second leg biasing said member to nozzleuncapping and capping positions, respectively; and a thumb lever rigid with the first-named leg and constituting means for swinging said member to each of its respective positions, the

second leg being forced against the guideplate by the spring to retain said member in the nozzle-uncapping position thereof.

2. The combination with a, container having a threaded nozzle at one end and a cap threadable uponthe nozzle, of a guide plate extending ra-' dially from the nozzle; askirt rigid with the guide plate at one end thereof and circumposed about the nozzle, said skirt havinga thread-engaging edge thereon engageable with the threads of the nozzle to connect the guide plate to the nozzle; a semi-elliptical spring fixed at one end to the other end of the guide plate in approximate parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and tensioned at its other end to exert a continuous pres-; sure in the general direction of the opposite end of the container; at cap-supporting member .including a pair of perpendicularly related legs fixedly joined at one end thereof and pivotally point, the cap being separably and rotatably connected to the other end of one leg, the other end of the second leg sliding longitudinally of the guide plate to opposite extreme positions adjacent the nozzle and spring, respectively, said spring in therespective positions of the second leg biasing said member to nozzle-uncapping and capping positions, respectively; and a thumb lever rigid with the first-named le and constituting means for swinging said member to eachof its respective positions, the second leg being forced against the guide plate by the spring to retain said member in the nozzle-uncapping position thereof, said second leg being proportioned for longitudinal fiexure thereof responsive to threading of the cap onto the nozzle in the nozzle-cap ping position of said member,

3. The combination with a container having a threaded nozzle at one end and a cap threadable upon the nozzle, said nozzle having a circumferential groove at the base of the threaded portion thereof, of a guide plate extending radially from the nozzle; a skirt rigid'with the guide plate at one end thereof and circumposed about the nozzle; a retaining spring rigidly connected at one end to the guide plate and having its other end extending into the groove, said retaining spring comprising means cooperating with the'skirt to connect the guide plate at one end thereof to the nozzle; 2. semi-elliptical spring fixed at one end to the other end of the guide plate in approximate parallelism with the longitudinal aXis of the nozzle and tensioned at its other'end to exert a continuous pressure in the general direction of the opposite end of the container; a cap-supporting member including a pair of perpendicularly related legs fixedly joined at one end thereof and pivotally connected directly to the second-named spring at their juncture point, the cap being separably and rotatably connected to the other end of one leg, the other end of the second le sliding longitudinally of the guide plate to opposite extreme positions adjacent the nozzle and 1 spring, respectively, said second-named spring in the respective positions of the second leg biasing said member to nozzle-uncapping and capping positions, respectively; and a thumb lever rigid with the first-named leg and constituting means for swinging said member to each of its respective positions, the second leg being forced against the guide plate by the spring to retain said member in the nozzle-uncapping position thereof,-said second leg being adapted for longitudinal flexure thereof responsive to threading of the cap onto the nozzle in the nozzle-capping position 01 the cap-supporting member.

4. The combination with a container having as nozzleat one end a cap for the nozzle, of a guide plate extended radially from the nozzle; a skirt rigid with the guide plate at one end thereof and circumposed about the nozzle; a second skirt circumposed about the nozzle and fixedly connected to the first skirt, said second'skirt having a series of teeth engageable in the nozzle for connecting the guide plate to the nozzle; a semi-elliptical spring fixed at one end to the other end of the guide plate in approximate parallelism with the longitudinal axis of the nozzle and tensioned at its other end to exert a continuous pressure in the general direction of the opposite end of the container; a cap-supporting member including a pair of perpendicularly related legs fixedly joined at one end thereof and pivotally connected directly to the spring at their juncture point, the cap being separably connected to the other end of one I leg, the other end of the second leg slidinglongi- .tudinally of the guide plate to opposite extreme positions adjacent the nozzle and spring, respectively, said spring in the respective positions of the second leg biasing said member to nozzleuncapping and capping positions, respectively; and a thumb lever rigid with the first-named le and constituting means for swinging said member to each of its respective positions, the second leg beingforced against the guide plate by the spring to retain said member in the nozzle-uncapping position thereof.

JOSEPH R. WOODY.

REFERENCES CITED The .following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

